Artur Beterbiev Had To “Strip Down” To Make Weight

A little drama developed in Montreal on Thursday afternoon, as Unified Light Heavyweight Champ Artur Beterbiev had to return to the scales….how shall we say, “sans clothing” to make the 175 lb. limit for his title defense with Marcus Browne.

The unbeaten Russian, who holds the IBF and WBC World Light Heavyweight titles initially weighed in at 175.2 lb. and was given the standard, up to two hours to be back on the scale to lose the 2/10 or be stripped of his titles for failure to make weight.

Alas, he returned a short time later, and dis-robed…completely, to make sure that he would be at or just below the number. Here’s the video evidence of that,

𝙒𝙀 𝙃𝘼𝙑𝙀 𝘼 𝙁𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏

⚖️Artur Beterbiev: 175lbs
⚖️Marcus Browne: 174.6lbs

👑👑The #WBC and #IBF 175lb titles are on the line

[ Tomorrow on #FITE | https://t.co/5cvRlbrrZs ]#TripleCouronne #TripleCrown #BeterbievBrowne

*Available in #Canada and other select INTL mkts* pic.twitter.com/tPBEjba43k

— FITE (@FiteTV) December 16, 2021

Beterbiev hit the number on the nose at 175 lb. on the re-try and that means that Top Rank Boxing and ESPN can breathe a sigh of relief that his championships will remain with him before the bout with the veteran Browne. And for clarification, it’s not uncommon for fighter to re-weigh without most or any clothing to make sure.

As our Marquis Johns wrote, the Russian is headlining Friday night in his adopted hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he has lived and trained for over 5 years. Beterbiev is also putting his perfect 16-0 record on the line that includes a KO or stoppage in every fight.

Beterbiev is in a prime position to fight either WBA champ (and fellow, unbeaten Russian) Dimitry Bivol in what would be a massively interesting bout, especially in Eastern Europe. Beterbiev could also be pitted against American WBO World champ, Joe Smith, Jr. as well. Smith is also a Top Rank Boxing fighter, while Bivol is with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom boxing on a fight by fight basis.

All of this supposes that Browne doesn’t give Beterbiev problems, if not pull the shocker Friday night. The New York native is 24-1, 16 KOs and would love nothing better than score the victory over the favored Russian and inject him in the unification title fight discussions, too.

Now, we wait to see if Beterbiev having to “Bare it all,” is a sign that he is drained from having to make the Light Heavyweight limit or not?